Veronica plant named ‘Purple Explosion’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Veronica  plant, ‘Purple Explosion’, that is characterized by its flowers that are deep purple-pink in color, its compact inflorescences with numerous flowers, and its strong, tall stems making it desirable for cut flower use.

Botanical classification: Veronica hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Purple Explosion’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is co-pending with a U.S. Plant Patent Application filed for a plant derived from the same breeding program that is entitled Veronica Plant Named ‘Pink Bomb’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/815,251).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant of hybrid origin and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘Purple Explosion’. The new cultivar of Veronica is a hardy herbaceous perennial grown for landscape and cut flower use.

The new cultivar of Veronica was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation by the Inventor in a seed bed at his nursery in July of 2010 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The exact parentage is unknown, however the seeds were collected, pooled, and sown from open pollinated plants of ‘Pink Explosion’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,592) and ‘Blue Explosion’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,497).

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings by the Inventor in April of 2011 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings and division has shown that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduce true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Purple Explosion’ as a new and unique cultivar of Veronica.

-   -   1. ‘Purple Explosion’ exhibits flowers that are deep purple-pink         in color.     -   2. ‘Purple Explosion’ exhibits compact inflorescences with         numerous flowers.     -   3. ‘Purple Explosion’ exhibits strong, tall (70 to 75 cm in         length) stems making it desirable for cut flower use.     -   4. ‘Purple Explosion’ can be most closely compared to its         possible parent plants, ‘Pink Explosion’ and ‘Blue Explosion’.         ‘Pink Explosion’ differs from ‘Purple Explosion’ in having pink         flowers and in having shorter stems (45 to 50 cm in length).         ‘Blue Explosion’ differs from ‘Purple Explosion’ in having blue         flowers and in having shorter stems (60 to 65 cm in length).         ‘Purple Explosion’ can also be compared to ‘Pink Bomb’. ‘Pink         Bomb’ differs from ‘Purple Explosion’ in having pink flowers and         in having shorter stems (55 to 60 cm in length).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Veronica. The photographs were taken of a plant about two years in age as grown outdoors in a field in Haarlem, The Netherlands and placed in a pot for the photographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Purple Explosion’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close up view of the inflorescences of ‘Purple Explosion’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close up view of a leaf of ‘Purple Explosion’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Veronica.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observed for a plant about 2-years-old as field grown outdoors in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—About 8 weeks from mid summer to early             autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous Perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Upright with strong stems.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 75 cm in height and about             39 cm in spread.         -   Hardiness.—At least hardy in U.S.D.A. Zone 4.         -   Diseases.—No particular susceptibility or resistance to             diseases has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Propagation.—Division and stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—Between 143C and 144A.         -   Stem size.—70 to 75 cm in length (including peduncles) and             an average of 4 mm in diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy and densely covered with soft             pubescent hairs an average length of 0.4 mm and 157D in             color.         -   Branching number.—Average of 7.         -   Branching habit.—Branching from the base. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf shape.—Narrowly ovate to lanceolate.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 7.9 cm in length and 2.6 cm in             width.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 22 per lateral branch.         -   Leaf base.—Truncate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf margin.—Serrate, average of 6 teeth per cm.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper side 144A, lower side 144A to             144B.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface moderately glossy, lower surface             slightly glossy, both surfaces sparsely covered with very             short hairs an average of 0.3 mm in length and 157D in             color.         -   Internode length.—An average of 3.2 cm.         -   Leaf color.—Mature upper surface N137B, mature lower             surface; 147B, young upper surface; 143A, young lower             surface; between 143A and 146B.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Petioles.—Flattened, average of 2 mm height and width, 144A             in color, surface pubescent. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Compound terminal raceme.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 2 months in the garden.         -   Lastingness as a cut flower.—About 2 weeks.         -   Inflorescence size.—31.8 cm in height and 8.5 cm in width.         -   Flower type.—Campanulate.         -   Flower number.—About 1,250 per inflorescence.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower buds.—Narrow ovate to oblong in shape, about 5 mm in             length and 1.5 mm in diameter, color 77A.         -   Flower size.—About 7.5 mm in depth and 7 mm in diameter.         -   Peduncles.—About 31.3 cm in length and 2 mm in width,             primary racemes straight upright, secondary racemes in an             average angle of 40°, strong in strength, 137C in color,             surface is slightly glossy and densely covered with soft             pubescent hairs an average length of 0.4 mm and 157D in             color.         -   Pedicels.—An average of 1.75 mm in length and 0.5 mm in             width, held at an average angle of 65°, strong in strength,             137C in color, surface is slightly glossy and densely             covered with soft pubescent hairs an average length of 0.4             mm and 157D in color.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 1.8 mm in length and 2 mm             in diameter.         -   Sepals.—4, about 0.75 mm in width and 1.8 mm in length,             young upper surface color; 143A, young lower surface color;             143B, mature upper surface color; 143A, mature lower surface             color; 143B to 143C, both surfaces dull and smooth, narrow             ovate in shape, acute apex, cuneate base with lower 5%             fused, entire margin.         -   Petals.—4, oblanceolate in shape, broadly acute apex,             campanulate, lower 45% fused, entire margin, color: upper             surface when opening; between 77A and N81B, lower surface             when opening; N81B, upper and lower surface when fully open;             N82A, fading to 86A to 86B, up to 6 mm in length and 2.5 mm             in width, dull and smooth on upper and lower surface. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, 7 mm in length, style is about 6.5 mm             in length and N78B in color, stigma is clavate in shape and             N78A in color, ovary is 144B in color.         -   Androecium.—2 stamens, filament is about 6 mm in length and             N81B in color, anthers are dorsifixed and elliptic in shape,             about 1.5 mm in length and N79C in color, pollen, is             moderate in quantity and 11D in color.         -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the             conditions tested. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Veronica plant designated ‘Purple Explosion’ as described and illustrated herein. 